Maple Cross facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Maple Cross |
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 The Maple Cross pub remains a defining landmark although now converted into dwellings. |
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 Maple Cross
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| Population | 2,426 (2011. approx) |
| OS grid reference | TQ034929 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RICKMANSWORTH |
| Postcode district | WD3 9 |
| Dialling code | 01923 |
| Police | Hertfordshire |
| Fire | Hertfordshire |
| Ambulance | East of England |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Maple Cross is a village in Hertfordshire, England. For a long time, it was a small place with just an inn, a blacksmith's shop, and a few houses. After World War II, it grew a lot. Now, it has about 800 homes, many of which were built by the local council.
The village is right next to junction 17 of the M25 motorway, which forms its western border. It's located on the western edge of Rickmansworth, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Watford and 6 miles (10 km) north of Uxbridge.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Story of Maple Cross
Maple Cross likely got its name from "Maypole Cross." Long ago, people in the village used to do maypole dancing here. It was so lively that in 1588, the nearby village of Mill End even complained about the noise to the local lord!
Maple Cross: A Look at Its History and Location
The village sits on the western side of the River Colne flood plain. The river itself is about a third of a mile (0.5 km) to the east. Maple Cross is built along the A412 Denham Way. This road follows an older route called the Old Uxbridge Road. This old road stayed on dry land above the flood plain.
To the west of the village, the land gently rises towards the Chiltern Hills. There are some steep slopes where dry valleys cut deep into the chalky ground. Two old roads from the west meet the Uxbridge Road here. One goes to Chalfont St Peter and the other to Chalfont St Giles. This made Maple Cross a good place for travelers to stop and rest, and perhaps gather for May festivals.
Ancient Paths and Boundaries
An old path called Old Shire Lane runs north to south about half a mile (0.8 km) west of the village. This path is very old, dating back to Saxon times. It used to mark the border between the ancient kingdoms of Wessex and Mercia. Today, it forms the boundary between the counties of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Parts of this lane are like a hollow way. This means centuries of use have worn the path down into the earth.
How Maple Cross Grew
Before World War II, Maple Cross was just a small hamlet. It had a few cottages for farm workers and two businesses for travelers: an inn and a farrier's shop (where horseshoes were made).
After the war, the village was planned to grow. It became a place for workers who had jobs in nearby towns or at the new sewage treatment plant by the river.
Maple Cross doesn't have any churches. Historically, it was too small to support one. Its residents were part of the St Thomas's parish in West Hyde, about a mile (1.6 km) to the south.
There are two historic buildings in the village. The Cross Inn dates back to the 1600s. There's also a barn of a similar age just east of the main road junction.
The Cross Inn's Story
The pub called The Cross is on Denham Way, the main road from Rickmansworth to Uxbridge. It's a listed building, meaning it's protected because of its historical importance. Parts of it are from at least the 1700s. In 2010, the pub was sold. The new owners wanted to knock it down and build new homes. However, strong local opposition stopped them. The original historic building still stands today. It has been turned into homes, with a small group of new houses built on the rest of the old pub site.
Business and Farming in Maple Cross
Until World War II, the area around Maple Cross was mostly farmland. Even today, you can still see fields where crops are grown and animals are raised. The area east of The Cross, near the river, was used for digging up gravel. The Grand Union Canal made it easy to transport this heavy material. The river also powered several mills from the 1500s onwards.
Watercress and Modern Businesses
Clear water springs at the edge of the River Colne flood plain were perfect for growing watercress. Watercress needs ponds fed by fresh, flowing water. William Bradbery, a pioneer in growing watercress, moved his business here in 1820. In the 1960s, the Three Rivers District Council named a road in Maple Cross "Bradbery" to remember him.
Today, some big international companies have offices in Maple Cross. They are in a special business area east of the village. They like the location because it's easy to get to the motorway. For example, the UK headquarters of the construction company Skanska is here. Also, the main offices for the combined Cadbury and Trebor Bassett sweet companies moved to the area in 2000.
Getting Around: Transport in Maple Cross
Maple Cross is bordered by the M25 motorway. A special exit from junction 17, marked as Maple Cross, leads directly to the village and Denham Way. Denham Way is the main road through the area. It was built in the 1950s to improve the Old Uxbridge Road and is part of the A412.
Bus Routes and Canals
The area is served by the Green Line bus route 724. This bus goes from Heathrow Airport to Harlow, Essex, passing through Watford. The local Arriva Shires & Essex 520 bus starts in Maple Cross and goes to Watford. Bus route R21 runs from Mount Vernon Hospital through Harefield and Rickmansworth. It usually ends in Maple Cross, but twice a day it extends its journey to Uxbridge via Denham.
The Grand Junction Canal, which later became part of the Grand Union Canal, was built in 1798 alongside the River Colne. It is still used today.
Future Rail Link
The planned High Speed 2 (HS2) railway line, which will connect London to Birmingham, will pass about half a mile (0.8 km) south of the village on a raised bank.
Maple Lodge Sewage Treatment Plant
Maple Cross is home to the Thames Water Maple Lodge Sewage Treatment Works. This large plant opened in 1950. Along with its sister site at Blackbirds Farm in Aldenham, it serves all of West Hertfordshire. This area has a population of about 557,000 people.
How the Plant Works
In 1952, the plant was used to test new technology called diffused aeration. A system that cleans water using diffused-air activated sludge has been used there ever since. The cleaned water from this process is then released into the nearby Grand Union Canal.
The thick sludge that settles from the incoming sewage is treated in special heated tanks. This process is called anaerobic digestion. A useful byproduct of this is methane gas, which is used to generate electricity right at the plant. The main product, the treated sludge, is then dried into a "cake" using industrial machines. This "cake" is then used on land as fertilizer. Sludge from the plant was even burned to create "green" electricity for the Millennium Dome.
The sewage plant became well-known when it was used to store a toxic waste called perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). This chemical was used to put out the large fire at the Buncefield Oil Terminal in 2005.
Maple Lodge Nature Reserve
Next to the sewage treatment plant is a 40-acre nature reserve. This land used to be a gravel quarry. It now has lakes and wetlands that provide a home for wildfowl (like ducks and geese). There are also nine Bird hides where people can watch birds without disturbing them.
The reserve is managed by the Maple Lodge Conservation Society, which started in 1983. Usually, only members of the society can access the reserve, but there is an open weekend in May for everyone to visit.
Sports and Fun in Maple Cross
The Maple Cross Recreation Ground is on Denham Way. It is managed by the Three Rivers Local Authority. This outdoor sports area has two full-sized football pitches, one smaller football pitch for junior players, and two tennis courts. There is also a cricket pitch. All these facilities can be booked for public use. The ground also has car parking and a sports pavilion with changing rooms.
See also
In Spanish: Maple Cross para niños
